GRGR(9) - Slothrop Meets Grigori

[David Morris]

First Contact:
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(187.14) Slothrop forms the impression that the octopus is not in good 
mental health, [...]there is a mad exhuberance, as with inanimate objects 
which fall off tables when we are sensitive to noise and our own clumsiness 
and don't _want_ them to fall [...]
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In this description is the fear of an infant, of spilling his milk.  In 
Slothrop's case, that fear of ejaculation would have to be hysterion-pre[?]. 
  Mama is the one who mops up the spilled milk, and scolds for the broken 
glass.

Slothrop is projecting (and sympathizing) onto the Octopus.  As with Theseus 
and the Minotaur, hero and monster, they identify.  They may even share the 
same side of some coin.  Are THEY on the other?

But their identity is also defined by the presence of the Leading Lady.  She 
is the object of desire, abducted, helpless, but does she really want it?.  
For the Greek gods kinapping and rape were Standard Operating Procedure.  
Here, though, which one (of the three) was most helpless?  SHE is the 
mediating one, no?  But that does not make her more culpable.  She is the 
cauldron, the deep vessel.  Jump in!

David Morris

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